Stalking has been portrayed countless times in movies and literature alike. The young, pretty girl is always pursued by a crazed madman who simply loves her because he believes she is beautiful and then we see the happy, cut-and-dried ending we so often watch.

This is far from the reality of stalking. Stalking is not a fictional event nor is it something that only happens to the young and wealthy. Staking is a crime that happens everyday around the world with no discrimination relating to the type of vicitm. Stalking is not a crime that impacts only the famous.

Stalking is a crime that strikes countless individuals on a daily basis. These events go fairly unreported, unnoticed, and only in the worst cases do media devote real attention to this issue. Many victims have been targeted for more than a decade without legal assistance. How is this possible? Because in stalking, the victim must show proof. They must prove that they feel threatened and intimidated in a court of law.

Luckily, there are many methods of protecting yourself from stalkers and their intimidation. The first step to take is to understand that all stalkers want one thing: to isolate their victims. They want their victim to feel completely and utterly isolated from friends and family.

When you are isolated, or feel isolated, the stalker will be the individual who is there. They want your complete and undivided attention. In rare cases this can end up turning into cases involving rape and murder.

Stalkers do not see their victims the same way others do. This has caused more stalking victims more misery than perhaps anything. People in general assume you must be young, amazingly attractive, famous, or wealthy to have a stalker. Many victims have been humiliated when they attempt to confide in others because they don't meet one or more of the aforementioned "criteria." Victims have been labeled "paranoid," "arrogant," or even "crazy."

This is the precise reaction that stalkers expect and hope for. It all revolves around isolation. Stalkers hope that people tell their victims as many negative and scary things as possible.

Stalkers "see" what they want to see. The majority of these cases require professional help to overcome because the issues causing the attraction are so deeply hidden. The stalker may not even understand why they are behaving in the way they do. Never try to rehabilitate a stalker even if you are qualified to do this type of work.

Understanding the facts and behaviors behind the act of stalking is a powerful tool in preventing it in the future, for all future victims.